Content Management

(Cf. Rosenfeld & Morville)

Challenges

  • There is no single "correct" way to organize information.
  • ambiguity (multiple interpretations, functions, uses)
  • heterogeneity (multiple types of information and sources)
  • multiple perspectives
  • multiple policies and standards

    Types of organizational schemes

  • exact, formal schemes (eg alphabetical, chronological, hierarchical)
  • associative, relational schemes (topical, task-oriented, audience-specific, site metaphor)
  • fixed schemes versus ad hoc/dynamical schemes (eg generated from a database, eg. Faceted Hypertrees)

    Navigation elements

  • browser: status bar, history, "back" button
  • server/part of the page structure: navigation bars, frames, pull-down menus,
  • server/not part of the page structure: table of contents, index, sitemap, guided tour, search

    Navigation builds context and improves flexibility.

    Labeling systems

  • standard WWW terms: Main, Home, Search, Site Map, Contact, News, Help, About
  • typical usage (eg. common keywords)
  • meta-data, data dictionary
  • ambiguity resolution (eg does "students" mean "for students" or "about students"?)
  • internal policies (eg. "use car instead of automobile", Benchmarks for IU Web Pages)
  • external standards (ISO, thesauri, controlled vocabulary, eg. ICD)
  • visual: icons
  • non-representational (ie. catching users attention without giving useful information)